OUTLOOK — By Salem Al Jawhary — Sometimes we wonder why some government establishments, which are standing out from the normal flock, are insisting on remaining there flying in their uncomplimentary space. The main reason for this is they believe that the integration with the others could lead these establishments to lose their own essential identities and prestige. They are attempting to ensure that they are existing by working in a dissimilar fashion regardless of the aims of the institution which it has to fulfil.
Our wonder increases when these institutions diminish or look down at the performance being exhibited by other organisations. They believe that they have more abilities than the others in understanding the current reality, future prospects and the services required by the citizens. At the same time, they do not appreciate any constructive efforts offered by other agencies for their benefit and for the benefit of citizens. For instance, no sooner had a foreigner who violated the residence regulations for more than 16 years was sentenced to be deported from the country immediately when another institution stepped in demanding that the person be given six months chance to correct and redeem his situation. This snap decision has left the authority that issued the ruling and which had been following the case down.
Our wonder is further doubled in another instance when we find that two agencies which are working together to implement a service project together violates their provision of co-operation. This happened when one of the two parties adds some amendments to the project without taking the approval of the other agency with whom they have an agreement for working together.
We know that we are not living in an utopia, however, we are not blaming people for their oversight mistakes, we are blaming those who are intending to do vital mistakes affecting the rest of the society and its segments in the short and long term.
The world of today does not accept the “contemporary sickness” as it is called due to the lack of co-ordination between different agencies. The current world does not recognise the lack of the mutual interaction between authorities. Yet, the current world acknowledges the ability of innovation, accessibility of services and the consideration of the one-shop-stop instead of wasting the citizens and residents time by moving from one establishment to another.
The big challenge facing us today is how we can integrate all our agencies in one form and with one ambition to achieve the same goal. If we want to serve our nation and citizens in a proper way, we assume that the authorities have to provide an efficient modern services mechanism.
For instance, we know that we cannot rely totally on the oil production itself. Therefore, we must consider to invest in other sectors such as commerce, tourism and other industries.
We have also to provide high quality of government services to citizens and think seriously of modifying the idea that the government jobs are not competitive enough like those in the private sector. This could motivate the public sector to enter into more areas of competition and scope.
